MADISON – Oconto County Conservation Warden Paul Hartrick was among 24 colleagues around the state recognized on Monday for their efforts to save lives or acts of valor.

In a program at the State Capitol, Hartrick received two Lifesaving Awards over incidents last year less than a month apart.

The first was for responding to an emergency medical call on Jan. 15, 2018 in Lakewood, where he performed CPR.

The second was on Feb. 5, 2018, where Hartrick applied a chest seal to save the life of a man who suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound near the intersection of States 22 and 32.

Hartrick, Oconto Falls Police Officer Jamie Kuhn, now-retired Oconto County Sheriff’s Lt. Mike Mason were also recognized two months later as “Top Cops” by then-Attorney General Brad Schimel for their roles in saving the man.

Hartrick, who is based in Oconto Falls, has been conservation warden for nearly five years.

"People call, and you come," Cole said. "As the state law enforcement service dedicated to the outdoors and the people who enjoy them, your service to the state and all its visitors cannot be overstated."

The criteria for the lifesaving award included that that “the person in jeopardy would not have a chance of survival without the employee's actions or assistance.” For the valor award, the officer showed “extraordinary heroism while being aware of an imminent threat to personal safety.”

One warden, Jeremy Peery of Eau Claire County, received three awards. Two were for lifesaving, when he and two other wardens — Shaun Deeney and Jim Cleven — saved a co-worker in a medical emergency in February 2016, and when responded to a car crash on May 28, 2018 and performed CPR. He also received a valor award for assisting Eau Claire Police enter a burning building in which someone had barricaded himself on June 5, 2018.

"Every warden nominated for an award was not thinking about being honored when they rushed to help," Schaller said. "They were just doing their job and people are alive today because of it."